Black Beans, Ham Hocks, Carrots And The Eurozone

February 15, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier broke out the crock pot a few days ago and cooked up a mess of black beans.  It was a first.  I soaked the beans overnight.  Then I threw them in the crock pot with three fat ham hocks and a cut up carrot.  This time I did not make the mistake of putting in too much water like I did with my last crock pot of black eye peas.

The black beans turned out great even though the clean up was messy.  The black beans shed their coloring.  The color baked itself on the inside of the crock pot and some got on the side of the refrigerator.

But now I have a hearty meal that will last me for several days.

*****

Black Beans

Image via Wikipedia

How’s everyone doing?

It will be a cloudy day in Pittsburgh, the high around 40; mild for February.  I’ve been paying closer attention to the Nightly Business Report on public television.  The show has been covering the possibility of a Greek default. 

I am not an expert on high finance.  I do know that the international monetary system is so integrated that a default by Greece could have a real effect on me and you.  If Greece goes the entire Eurozone could go and the possibility of a world-wide Great Depression, much worst than the one in 1929, could be upon us.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about creative writing and female sexuality.

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900 Hits, Crock Pot Chili And Super Bowl Sunday

February 5, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier cooked up a mess of chili in his crock pot Friday.  I’ll be eating chili for several days.  I browned some lean ground meat in a pan on the stove.  I cut up two green peppers and put the pieces in the meat as the meat was browning.  I added a little salt to the pan and then drained the meat and the peppers and threw everything into my crock pot.  In the crock pot were kidney beans and tomato sauce.  I sprinkled in a good amount of Hot Mexican-Style Chili Powder by McCormick.

Five hours later I had chili.

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How’s everyone doing on this Super Bowl Sunday?  What do people do when their team is not in the Super Bowl?  The Steelers are not playing so I got no skin in the game.

A nice backdoor

Image via Wikipedia

With my new financial security, I’ve been hanging out in the bars pretty good.  So, I think I’ll stay home and watch the game on my own television.  Maybe I’ll go on a beer run later today.  It’s around 11:00 AM and the sun is shinning and it’s suppose to be another mild (in the 40s) day in Pittsburgh.

As of this morning, the PFF Gazette has over 900 hits for February.  And it’s not even noon yet.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

*****

The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a news magazine about writing and sexuality.  Submit a short story today.  The Submissions tab is at the top of the page.

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Crock Pot Cooking: Blackeye Peas And Other Observations

January 22, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

The Old Soldier is finishing up the lima beans and ham hocks and has just put on a crock pot of blackeye peas and ham hocks.  I’ve never cooked blackeye peas in the crock pot; so, I will have to keep an eye on them.

I rinsed the peas, put them in the crock pot with two nice ham hocks for flavor and then covered everything with a few inches of water.

*****

It’s early afternoon.  I haven’t been outside, but the sun is shinning and the high will be around 40.  Maybe I’ll go for a walk around the neighborhood.  A play-off football game will be on television at 3:00 PM.  Right now I have soccer on the television, but I’m not a soccer fan.

*****

Image representing Zemanta as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

I did get in touch with Zemanta, the people who run the app for visuals for WordPress.  I’ve agreed to do an email interview.  They want to do the interview Tuesday or Thursday.  I should let them know some time today.

*****

As of this morning the Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette has gotten over 4,100 hits for January.  Which means the magazine is on schedule to get over 5,000 hits for the month.  I would really like to make 6,000 hits a month the minimum for the magazine.

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Well, the Old Soldier is low on funds and he doesn’t expected any reinforcements until Wednesday.  So, I won’t be hanging out in the bars today.  Just as well.  I’ve been drinking too much.

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Crock Pot Cooking: Turkey Wings And Other Observations

January 21, 2012 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette

Some Of My Old Amateur Photography

It’s around 3:00 PM.  Soon I will leave and walk to Del’s to see my peeps, Rick and Di.  Jonny Del, one of the owners of Del’s, told me something interesting last night.  Del’s is going to start having karaoke on Wednesday nights, too.  Karaoke at Del’s Wednesdays and Fridays, it’s time for the Old Soldier to shine.

The question becomes, how can I use my karaoke persona (Jim Morrison) to promote the PFF Gazette?

*****

Hello hello hello, all my brother and sister bloggers, readers, writers and Flash Fiction Fanatics.  I guess you’re tired of reading about the Old Soldier eating lima beans and ham hocks.  Well, I’m tired of eating them.  There is only one cup of beans and ham left.  So, today I put two big turkey wings in the crock pot.  I usually tear off the skin, but I’ll do that after the wings are done.  It’s easier.  Then I’ll debone the meat.

I just put a cup of water into the pot.  Nothing more.  I’ll season the meat when it’s deboned and done.

*****

Read.  Study.  Write.

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Crock Pot Cooking: Roast, Red Potatoes And Green Peppers

December 22, 2011 — pittsburghflashfictiongazette
A Sunday roast consisting of roast beef, roast...

Image via Wikipedia

A writer’s got to eat.  And the Old Soldier will be eating well as soon as he puts on his crock pot.  I got a thick roast.  I got a package of small read potatoes.  A got several green peppers.

After proper cleaning, everything will go into the crock pot.  Now I have read some manuals on crock pot cooking that say the vegetables should go on the bottom and the meat should go on top.  That way the juices of the meat will drip over the vegetables making them more tasty; but I never do that.  It doesn’t seem right to have a heavy piece of meat on my little, fragile vegetables.

When I have a good size of meat I never add water.  The meat will make its own broth.  So, after I put up this post I’m going to put on my crock pot.  I don’t know what seasoning I’m going to use; but I’ve got salt and pepper, garlic powder and chopped onions and basil leaves.

The roast and vegetables are really for the weekend.  Today it’s rice/and or Ramen Noodles.

Eat fresh!

*****

Once the crock pot is on, the Old Soldier is going to make that trip to the public library to return the three volumes of Anais Nin and to pick up something else.  It’s an overcast day, the high around 43.  So, everybody be cool and I’ll see you on the flip side.

Peace out!

*****

The flash fiction Submissions tab is at the top of the page.

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